“I love you, Dad,” he whispered.

“Love you too. And I always will. All of you, I promise,” he whispered back.

I leaned into Luke, and he wrapped an arm around me. Calla snuggled into my side, and Rocky burrowed his way into Dylan and Luke’s hug. I heard a muffled sob and looked up in time to see my mom wipe her eyes and rush past the doorway.

After we all had breakfast together, and after we said goodbye to the kids and my family, we were in Luke’s truck headed to drop Rocky off at Jed’s, me at Violet’s, and Luke was heading to the office to meet with Liam. We were talking about nothing, listening to music, and enjoying the sunny summer morning when we were interrupted by Luke’s phone ringing over the Bluetooth connection in the car. He pressed the button on the steering wheel and answered. “Hey, Liam.”

“Luke,” he said.

I snapped to attention. He didn’t sound right.

“I’ll meet you tomorrow. I’m not feeling well,” Liam said. I did not like the way he sounded; it made me uneasy.

“Sure, man. Get some rest,” Luke answered and disconnected the call.

“I don’t like the way he sounded,” we said, almost in unison. Then Luke added, “I’m going to stop by and check on him.”

I nodded, glad that he’d noticed too.

Luke made a left off Main Street and headed up into the residential neighborhood on the bluff where Liam’s rental house was. I was tense in my seat. I didn’t know Liam well at all, but I was worried. Something in his voice had me seriously on edge. I glanced at Luke. He was tense as well, which only made me worry more. Hurry.

We pulled into Liam’s driveway, and the second I got my door open, Rocky launched himself from the back seat, over my shoulder to land on the floor of the truck by my feet. He jumped out of the truck and raced for the front door. He immediately started scratching the door and barking. Luke quickly followed him and pounded on the door.

“Liam, open up!” he shouted.

I hopped down and joined them. Worry and dread filled me. Rocky started whining, then howling, and Luke was still pounding on the door.

“Kick it in, Luke,” I said.

He didn’t stop to think about what I said, just took a step back and kicked hard. The door flew open, and Rocky rushed through our legs, darting past us like a light brown canine blur. I hurried after Luke through the entryway, something telling me to take out my phone and call 911, just in case.